WASHINGTON – The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Senior Vice President of Government Relations David French after the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 and the Organized Retail Crime Center Authorization Act were introduced in the U.S. Senate. The bills will create new tools to assist in federal investigation and prosecution of ORC and help recover lost goods and proceeds.
“Retailers face security-related challenges on many fronts, and ORC continues to be a formidable threat in communities across the country. These brazen crimes endanger employees and customers, and also contribute to total shrink, costing the industry nearly $100 billion in 2021, as reported in NRF’s 2022 National Retail Security Survey.
“While retailers continue to adapt to rapidly changing criminal tactics, federal support is also needed. This legislation is a critical step to increase collaboration between federal law enforcement agencies, retail investigators and state agencies to more effectively combat these increasingly violent criminal activities.
“We are grateful to Senators Chuck Grassley and Catherine Cortez Masto for their leadership on legislation to curtail one of the most urgent problems facing retailers and the communities we serve.”
As the leading authority and voice for retail, NRF has spearheaded industry efforts for policy reform on crucial ORC legislation, including the INFORM for Consumers Act, which was passed late last year.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail succeed. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com
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